Hi!

I used to work in higher education. I was working full time, and got a raise from $5K/year to $7K/year. I was staying because I hoped to get a decent paying full time position at the U. I was at. When that evaporated, I left.

I used to teach school. Starting pay was $24K/year (after doing student teaching, which is PFT). I basically had a master's degree, so I was bumped up to $28K. The union negotiated a new contract with, basically, no pay raises for the next 5 years.

I had a new principal who abused us massivly. At the end of the school year, 40% of the teachers didn't come back the next year (and this was a GOOD school, in a GOOD school district). She was forced into early retirement after about 5 years. I heard the replacement is WORSE!

I used to be in the AF, which was OK.

Now, I'm at an on-demand carrier. It is by far the best job I have ever had, and it is better in some ways (Health care, for one) than my CEO's Fortune 500 job.

3 of our guys have gone back (one twice) to NWA. The 2 guys I know both say it is MUCH better than my current job.

Is NWA, or another major perfect? No. But it IS a very good job, with very high pay, even relative to incomes in the US, not to mention worldwide.

cliff
ABQ
PS-My buddy's brother is at Alaska. He says it's fantastic, easy, and has great working conditions. Many of the mil guys he knows, who went directly to Alaska, ***** and complain every day about how crappy it is.